Does anyone have a kenwood mixer? Would you recommend it?

maryb

I had a Kenwood Chef for many years and I knew I ought to love it but I just didn't for reasons I couldn't quite pin down. I sold it in the end and put the money towards a Kitchenaid even though on paper it's less powerful.

I love the Kitchenaid! It's a complete revelation to me and I still don't know why it's so much better than the Kenwood. My cakes are half an inch higher and the pastry is light and short.

Maybe my Kenwood had a quirk although I spent ages adjusting it to get the beater to scrape the bottom of the bowl properly. And I know I'm in the minority so obviously most people get on with theirs. What I would say is that a good stand mixer is definitely worth it

ziggy2004

I have a kenwood chef and it is used at least 4 times a week, usually more.

I have the liquidiser jug but only use it for smoothies and milkshakes and use a stick blender for soup.

I have asked for the mini chopper attachment for Christmas this year and like that you can get a range of different attachments ( one day when I have more time I would love the pasta attachment)

marmiterulesok

Love mine!

Katieowl

I'm on my second Kenwood, and I make cake for a living so it gets lots of use! Love some of the other gadgets too, I have a potato peeler, the dicing attachment and the mincer. Spare bowls are useful if you do two stage cakes.

jackyann

I'm glad to hear such positive comments about Kenwood. I was given one over 40 years ago, it lasted about 30 years and I loved it so much that I got another. It was awful! It was not quite so bad that it wouldn't work, so I could never make a formal complaint, but it shook a lot, seemed to labour over mixes that the first one did well, it just never felt right. One or two I mentioned it to agreed with me.
About 5 years ago, as part of a refurbishment, using a windfall, DH said he was fed up with me moaning and we got a fabulous Kitchen Aid (no, I wasn't seduced by the colours!). The motor was much more powerful, and I love it as much as my original Kenwood.
However, recently I have been hearing the kind of comments above, and am glad. Do check the motor, and check that when you click it to left the arm up, that the machine remains sitting solidly on the counter.
A machine that works hard needs to be a good weight.

minorman

We have the old one brought in the 1970's and the motor finally failed so Mrs H  replaced it this year with the latest version. She is not impressed as the whisk misses at least the first 1/2 inch or so of the mix  in the bowl all round the bowl. She has to continually intervene with  a spatula to get a good mix.

MrsStepford

I had one for years. They take up quite a bit of room on the kitchen counter and are heavy. They will liquidise, make bread dough and so forth. We have a Bosch stick blender and I prefer that. However, we have a soupmaker and husband makes his gluten-free bread by hand. We don't make cakes or pastry either. It really depends what you will use it for. 

purpleivy

I have  a Kenwood Chef 701A which I was kindly gifted in the 'olden days' when Freecycle wasn't just loads of people asking for stuff!  My mum had one when I was a child in the 70s and I knew it was a work horse. I use the beater and the whisk for cakes/meringues. I have the sieve which is great for apple puree and I use for marmalade too. I have the mincer which is only used occasionally, but I like having it 

Floss

minorman said:

We have the old one brought in the 1970's and the motor finally failed so Mrs H  replaced it this year with the latest version. She is not impressed as the whisk misses at least the first 1/2 inch or so of the mix  in the bowl all round the bowl. She has to continually intervene with  a spatula to get a good mix.

If you check the (comprehensive) handbook, it should have info about adjustments with the spanner.